Tweet: India discovers more and more land. CAG report documents over 58,000 acres of land with defence establishments lying vacant.
CAG flays defence establishments for poor land management: The CAG report states that poor asset management by defence organisations has led to a situation where large tracts of land acquired between 1905 and 1990 have been lying unused.
Tweet: Parliament was informed that 437 road projects running behind schedule, 101 under dispute and 57 terminated. Clear need to tone up system.
Road building—a bumpy ride so far: Of the government’s target of constructing 6,300 km of roads each year in 2013-14 and 2014-15, respectively, 4,260 km and 4,410 km have been completed during the two fiscals. The target for 2015-16 has been reportedly upped to 10,000 km, of which 7,000 km is slated for EPC and 3,000 km for PPP, largely under hybrid annuity.
Tweet: District Roads bouquet after Bharat Mala & Sagar Mala. PM approves highway connect for 100 of 676 district HQs. 6600 kms & R60,000 cr.
Plugging for connectivity: Under the Rashtriya Rajmarg Zila Sanjoyokta Pariyojna, roads will be developed to connect 100 district headquarters across the country. The government had earlier cleared the Bharat Mala and Sagar Mala projects in order to improve connectivity in the border areas and around religious and tourism centres.
Tweet: Low investment cycle indicator: India’s consumption of total finished steel products grew by only 3.1% in 2014-15. No contra-indicator yet.
Steel industry faces tough times: The steel industry continues to be plagued by low domestic demand and cheap imports. Domestic prices of steel have declined by 19% in the past six months.
Tweet: Just as you thought things may start improving, RBI Guv says: “Bad loans haven’t peaked yet.” NPAs need to be transparently recognised.
Bad loans—a cause for concern: With the ratio of bad loans at Indian banks doubling over the past three years, RBI continues to raise alarm bells vis-a-vis the mounting threat of bad loans largely coming out of the construction, infrastructure and mining sectors.
Tweet: Third time lucky? Land Ord for 3rd time as any Ordinance lapses 6 weeks after the 1st session of Parliament begins since its promulgation.
Land ordinance to be repromulgated yet again: The government has till the end of this month to promulgate yet another ordinance on the Land Acquisition Bill after its failure to get the legislation passed in the Rajya Sabha in the recently concluded Budget Session.
Tweet: Raility Show: Suresh Prabhu tells Rly Board Members to eschew posh salon cars and travel by 2nd class on official tours to imbibe reality.
A reality check for railway officials: In a bid to make policy-makers aware of ground realities, the railway ministry is preparing a schedule for Board members as well as officials to travel in trains like ordinary passengers.
Tweet: Gadkari consistently taking practical decisions for roads sector ~ EPC emphasis, Hybrid Annuity, 100% exit, NHAI top-up loan etc.
Roads sector—on the growth path: The roads sector is beginning to look upbeat with the transport minister taking a series of decisions that address a slew of concerns of the road construction industry over the last five years. It is expected now that road construction related order books will begin to look up substantially as well as receive fresh liquidity injection.
—Vinayak Chatterjee is Chairman of Feedback Infra
His Twitter handle: @Infra_VinayakCh
A weekly selection of the author’s tweets—with a brief backgrounder—in the infra space, by Adite Banerjie
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